Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

F-35C Makes First Arrested Landing on U.S. Navy Carrier
AIN Online ^ | November 3, 2014 | BILL CAREY

Posted on 11/03/2014 6:49:41 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki

The U.S. Navy conducted the first arrested landing of an F-35C Joint Strike Fighter carrier variant on November 3. Cmdr. Tony Wilson, a Navy test pilot, landed test aircraft CF-03 on the flight deck of the carrier USS Nimitz off the coast of San Diego after flying from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.

The first arrested landing came at the start of initial at-sea developmental testing of the F-35C, which is expected to last for two weeks. The carrier testing involves test aircraft CF-03 and CF-05, both fitted with a redesigned tail hook after problems with the initial design delayed carrier testing. This is the first of three at-sea test phases planned for the F-35C.

In May 2013, the Navy said it planned to declare initial operational capability of the carrier variant by February 2019. The F-35 Joint Program Office said the first arrested landing “reinforces Navy-industry partnership goals to deliver the operational aircraft to the fleet in 2018.”

“Today is a landmark event in the development of the F-35C,” said Wilson, who is attached to the Navy’s VX-23 Air Test and Evaluation Squadron based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. “It is the culmination of many years of hard work by a talented team of thousands. I'm very excited to see America’s newest aircraft on the flight deck of her oldest aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz.”


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aerospace; f35c; jsf; navair; usn
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-67 next last
To: golux

Excuse me stewardess, I speak “jive”.

CC


21 posted on 11/03/2014 7:59:30 PM PST by Celtic Conservative (Never attribute to malice that which can more easily be explained by incompetence or stupidity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: BlueNgold

it may be four wire. there may be one to the right of the plane. iirc the carriers use a four-wire arrest system.


22 posted on 11/03/2014 8:00:30 PM PST by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: yarddog
I bet he did it on an airstrip in the dessert many times.

Hope he did not mess up the frosting............

j/k

23 posted on 11/03/2014 8:01:56 PM PST by doorgunner69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: doorgunner69

I knew that did not look right but the spell checker couldn’t tell what I was thinking.


24 posted on 11/03/2014 8:03:32 PM PST by yarddog (G)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

Oooh ahhhhh wow. That only took how long since the prototype flew?

People have retired on this project. Some must have retired in place.

I really hope the thing flies better than it looks.

Even the euro fighter is a better looking plane.


25 posted on 11/03/2014 8:15:29 PM PST by Sequoyah101 (Obola brought to you by demorats. Hope you like your Change and live to tell it.ow pooh wash)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

Arrested landing... damn CHP is everywhere.

jk


26 posted on 11/03/2014 8:18:05 PM PST by ArmstedFragg (Hoaxey Dopey Changey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom

The VTOL feature use much more fuel. When not operationally necessary, VTOLs are operated somewhat more normally for take-offs and landings.


27 posted on 11/03/2014 8:27:40 PM PST by Kenny Bunk (Is it not one's Christian duty to vote?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man

Carriers do use a 4 wire system.
The number 3 wire is the target.
A 3 wire trap is a good trap .. and normally indicates an approach on glide slope and speed

On further review of the photo it looks like he caught the 2 wire, a good but not great approach. My guess is he came in gentle and maybe a tad slow. First time on a new airframe... I’d say it’s forgivable.

Target gap between wires is less than 50 ft. at about 160 knots relative air speed, on a moving platform. Just another day at work for these guys...


28 posted on 11/03/2014 8:27:51 PM PST by BlueNgold (Have we crossed the line from Govt. in righteous fear of the People - to a People in fear of Govt??)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: BlueNgold

Before I get hate mail I looked again.
Too high for the wire in the foreground which should be the 2 wire.

So then I went and found a video.
http://theaviationist.com/2014/11/03/f-35c-lands-on-uss-nimitz/

He absolutely nailed the 3 wire. Classic carrier trap.
Don’t want anyone thinking I’m casting aspersions on the pilot.

Way cool stuff.


29 posted on 11/03/2014 8:34:27 PM PST by BlueNgold (Have we crossed the line from Govt. in righteous fear of the People - to a People in fear of Govt??)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Sequoyah101

In the latter 1980’s, I attended a seminar. The featured speaker was the officer ramrodding the F-35 project.


30 posted on 11/03/2014 8:37:50 PM PST by Rembrandt (Part of the 51% who pay Federal taxes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Rembrandt

The point is made and confirmed. Thanks.

I loathe Lockheed for lobbying to kill the F-22 to make more profit on theF-35. They put profit way ahead of national security.


31 posted on 11/03/2014 8:49:24 PM PST by Sequoyah101 (Obola brought to you by demorats. Hope you like your Change and live to tell it.ow pooh wash)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: yarddog
You know that cannot be allowed to pass without harassment...........

Particularly in a military thread.

32 posted on 11/03/2014 8:52:57 PM PST by doorgunner69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Sequoyah101
I really hope the thing flies better than it looks.

"Looks"??

You are a little late to the party if you have never seen the Boeing candidate for the JSF..............

Boeing almost guaranteed failure just from looks, but it did have other shortcomings that Lockheed did not. Like blowtorching the carrier deck.

33 posted on 11/03/2014 8:58:45 PM PST by doorgunner69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: doorgunner69

Never favored either or the concept of another multi role airplane.


34 posted on 11/03/2014 9:02:41 PM PST by Sequoyah101 (Obola brought to you by demorats. Hope you like your Change and live to tell it.ow pooh wash)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Sequoyah101
The A-3 and A-7 are long gone, and IMHO dogging the F-18 down with A-G without another A-A asset to take up some of the load was insane.

Killing the F-14 without bringing an dedicated air superiority fighter online was criminal.

The F-35 may not be a Mig or Su killer, but it is better able to defend itself in a confused battlespace.

35 posted on 11/03/2014 9:26:36 PM PST by doorgunner69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki; Robert A. Cook, PE; Secret Agent Man; Kenny Bunk

Thanks for your explanations, all.

Can anyone answer me this? What are the things that look like some kind of antennas mounted all around the upper levels of the island? I count seven of them in clear view in the above image.

Each one appears to include two yagis that are tilted toward each other, with an oval ground-plane behind them. They are aimed outward at various angles, but each appears to be fixed (that is, not on any kind of gimbal mount).


36 posted on 11/03/2014 9:27:09 PM PST by Steely Tom (Thank you for self-censoring.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

About damn time...


37 posted on 11/03/2014 9:32:03 PM PST by rottndog ('Live Free Or Die' Ain't just words on a bumber sticker...or a tagline.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sequoyah101

Some think the F-35 is a waste of money,but I’m glad to see they’re giving it a chance.It’s far more advanced they the more reciently proposed aircraft.

Avionics,electronics,more advanced...

By the way,Patuxant River , Md. is where this “Skinny old man” left the states to catch up with the USS Lake Champlain (CVA-39)back in Jan.1955.It was a Naval Auxillary Air Station back then.I was just 17 years old...


38 posted on 11/03/2014 9:34:22 PM PST by skinny old man (Still lurking and posting after all these years(20 yrs ?)(more ?)(seems like more...))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: SampleMan; BlueNgold
From the video just posted, sure looks to my Marine eye like a #3, as I would expect from Navy CDR doing the first F-35 trap!

Poor bastard would never live it down if he had screwed the pooch!

39 posted on 11/03/2014 9:47:58 PM PST by doorgunner69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom
Do not see any sort of structure like you describe. I spent a career designing antennas, so have a passing familiarity with what I see on the island.

Glad to help, but a hint where to look would help.

40 posted on 11/03/2014 9:52:27 PM PST by doorgunner69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-67 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson